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Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines, consolidation of lines, stock transfers, leases;
Cleveland and Cincinnati Telegraph Company;
New York and Western Union Telegraph Company;
New York and Erie Railroad Company;
change of name from New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company to Western Union Telegraph Company.

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June 29, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"...had a lovely passage to Detroit, arriving at 3 P.M. yesterday, One of those floating Hotels is the greatest luxury of the hot season and nothing could have rendered the sojourn of a day on the 'Rock' more pleasant except your company and Emma's & Mary's."

July 4, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"The anniversary of Our Independence is being celebrated in various ways but not so as to attract any special notice. I feel more interest just now in knowing how it is being celebrated in Kansas. That has become the second battle ground of freedom, and the day that secures freedom for Kansas will become notable in the annals of history, as the second birthday of freedom."

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July 20, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"Mary and Jane went to Methodist [church], and H[iram] to the Spiritualist, and Phebe railed about it, and says she don't want any of her friends to call and see her who will go to a Spiritual meeting, so goes the world - and so it always went. Oh! dear me, will it ever be better?"

August 20, 1856. Ezra Cornell's letter to the American Citizen of Ithaca:
"As for the Pope, I am to old to be frightened by his shadow, and am quite sure his shadow or Substance will do less harm to the liberties of my country than will a party, who seek to acquire political power by exciting religious bigotry in the minds of their duped followers."

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November 30, 1856. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"I have begged $110 for the sufferers in Kansas the past 3 days by heading the subscription myself with $10. I got B.G. Ferris $5 & H. Dow $5, the balance from Republicans--I shall pay it to the National Kansas Committee at Chicago."

PLACES:

PEOPLE:

TOPICS:

Telegraph business correspondence: finances, office operations, western lines;
Spiritualism;
New York and Western Union Telegraph Company;
Ithaca farm;
Minnesota State Telegraph Company.

HIGHLIGHTS:

January 22, 1857. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"I went with at the urgent request of a friend last night to converse with the spirits, He being a firm believer, and having had satisfactory confabs. The Spirit who conversed with me, the medium said was that of my Grandfather Reuben Barnard, who attempted to answer questions that I asked, but as no one of a dozen questions was answered right, I came to the conclusion that it was not the spirit of my Grand Father for he was a man of great truth, and would not answer questions in this shabby manner."

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February 23, 1857. Ezra Cornell to Mary Ann Cornell:
"I am sorry to hear that Jane is no better, it is a state of partial insanity, growing out of a morbid religious excitement, it is a religion without reason, reason should be the basis of religion..."

February 27, 1857. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"I am planning for the removal to the farm. There is much to do, to get things fixed, but it will be a nice place, and your mother is already pleased as every else appears to be. I can tell you that we intend to have the best farm in Western NY.
"What do you think of my going out with the transatlantic cable? It will be the best opportunity that has ever been presented to test some verry important experiments in telegraphing..."

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May 13, 1857. Ezra Cornell to Alonzo B. Cornell:
"As to names, I am not decided yet what it shall be, 'Forest Home' I like but don't want to rob F.O.J.S. 'Cascadilla' is good but is so Old that it has lost all the sweetness of originiality, 'Mount Evergreen' Seems discordant 'Forest City Farm' is too long 'Forest Retreat' don't respond in harmony to the proper chords, 'Cascadia' is short and appropriate, 'Cornelia' is the name that Gov Seward gave my old place at fall Creek, and I like it pretty well, 'Caterac Farm' would not be inappropriate considering that the farm is bordered by cataracks on its north & south sides - 'Fairview' would be a name expressive of the facts. 'Mount Prospect' would also be expressive - I should like an Indian name if I could hit upon the right one, but I have not yet practiced in the red skin dialect. As Ithaca & Ulisses are names borrowed from Homer, Illiad or Odessa perhaps it would not be inappropriate to resort to Homer for still another name. So we will pass on and wate for a name."